Broadway Blessing

It's time for Redeemer's 13th Annual Broadway Blessing:

Broadway Blessing

Center for Faith & Work

Monday, September 14 at 7:00PM at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave at 112th St. Join with the actors and dancers groups for the 13th Annual Broadway Blessing, a night of song, prayer, and celebration, asking God's blessing on the Broadway season. Visit www.faithandwork.org/dancers for more details.

Time: 7:00pm

Location: The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave.

For more information, contact: Kenyon Adams, kenyon@redeemer.com, (212) 808-4460 x1344

Email: kenyon@redeemer.com

Web site: www.faithandwork.org/dancers

Anything good on Broadway lately?

Free, Free, Free! Summer Events

Don't let the economy get in the way of having a fun summer. Everyone always says how expensive New York City is. And it is. But it's also one of the best cities for finding free things to do. Here are a couple of lists to check out:

Summer Fun -- An extensive list of free concerts, movies, plays and family friendly events in New York and New Jersey. You already know about Shakespeare in the Park, but do you know there's a Shakespeare on the Run?

Oh My Rockness -- Free concerts of the indie-rock persuasion

[image via PureMusic: Blonde Redhead, just one of the many free bands you can see this summer.]

What free events do you plan on hitting up this summer?

Broadway Under the Bridge

Who wants to stand in line at the TKTS booth all day? Skip the line and see Broadway Under the Bridge this Sunday, March 29, at 8 PM at Galapagos (16 Main St., Brooklyn):::

Performances by DUMBO's own Ana Gasteyer (SNL, Wicked); Jenn Colella (High Fidelity); Sarah Litzsinger (Beautfy and the Beast); Megan McGinnis (Little Women); Kate Reinder (Wicked); Cathy Trien (Gypsy); Christopher Sloan (Cabaret); Jessica-Snow Wilson (Spelling Bee)

Tickets are $75 and benefit The Brooklyn Young Mother's Collective.

Spring Salon Preview

Tonight there will be a special Spring Salon Preview hosted by Curious Frog Theatre Company and Opera Singers Initiative at NY Studio Gallery in Manhattan (154 Stanton St.). According to Shaun Bennet Wilson, who will be playing Juliet in two preview scenes from CFTC's upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet:

[T]here will be several (I'm told they're incredible) operatic pieces from Opera Singers Initiative, a preview of CFTC's upcoming production of True West (with a "non-traditional" cast), modern dance, orchestral music (featuring a beautiful solo piece for the cello) free wine, free gourmet food (Tapas, et al), and more creative things to make your art loving hearts tingle. We've got a little something for everyone!!!

It sure sounds like quite an evening from the Curious Frog's description:

Everybody loves a party. We hear you. The Spring Preview wouldn’t be much of a shindig without a little food and drink. Not to worry. Curious Frog knows how to make merry. Just ask anybody who came to our benefit for Much Ado About Nothing last fall, where between songs, musician Mark Pires did impressions of Christopher Walken playing Hamlet. Yep. The wine was that good. Need we say more?

The show begins at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $35, but there will be "Hugely discounted rush tickets available 20 minutes before the show begins!!" The proceeds will go toward producing True West at a found space in Manhattan in the spring. Romeo and Juliet will play in August and September as part of Shakespeare in the Park.

Both the Curious Frog and the Opera Singers Initiative work toward broadening the experience of the arts.

Curious Frog:

Curious Frog's mission is to present new, modern and classical works with the goal of showing a new, multicultural perspective through non-traditional casting that does not hinder understanding or believing a work, but rather enhances the work in an innovative manner and fosters fresh perceptions.

Opera Singers Initiative:

The mission of Opera Singers Initiative is to provide educational services and financial support to young opera singers while increasing the public's interest in opera and classical music through the following through career development, funding and performance opportunities.

Before watching Romeo and Juliet, you may want to read the chapter "The Gospel of Jesus: Why William Shakespeare was a Prophet" in Donald Miller's Searching for God Knows What, which is reprinted here. Miller beautifully explains God and love through Shakespeare's play.

Here's Grace and a Cod-piece

Don't let today's warm weather fool you -- we've still got a while to go before its Shakespeare in the Park season. But that doesn't mean you have to be deprived of Shakespeare. Today and tomorrow you can catch King Lear at the National Black Theatre:

Take Wing And Soar Productions proudly presents Shakespeare's KING LEAR, at the National Black Theatre, from February 20th - March 1st. Directed by Shakespearean actor & director Timothy D. Stickney, KING LEAR stars Tony Award winning actress Trezana Beverley.

KING LEAR tells a poignant tale of tragedy, murder, greed, power, madness & ungrateful children! Can a man of power, give away that which makes him powerful & still rule? Join the TWAS Classical Actors of Color as they share the stage with Tony Award winning actress Trezana Beverley* as she takes on the role of a King gone mad, in one of the greatest plays in world drama.

Joining Ms. Beverley in starring roles are Leon Addison Brown*, Jim DeMonic & Bryan Webster*. Featured in the cast are James Edward Becton*, Freeman Borden, Alvin Chan, Matthew Cohn, Lawrence Floyd*, Robin LeMon*, Jennifer Le Blanc*, Anja Lee*, Marcus Lorenzo, Tom Martin, Morgan McGuire, Khemali Murray, Declan Sammon, Tovah Suttle*, Chris Triana, Armand Valdes, Kari Nicole Washington* & Mary Hodges* as Lear's Fool.

Dramaturgy is by Dr. Mark Ringer, Scenic Design by Pavlo Bosyy, Costume Design by Ali Turns, Lighting Design by Joyce Liao & Sound Design by David D. Wright. Production Stage Manager is Norman Small.

Artistic Director & Producer of KING LEAR is Debra Ann Byrd, Producer is Flora Gillard & Associate Producer is David Weaver.

TICKETS for this LIMITED ENGAGEMENT are now available at SMARTTIX.COM | $18.00 Call 212.868.4444 | GROUP SALES & INFO 212.696.6572 | visit us online at www.takewingandsoar.org

Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm; Sunday at 3pm | Opening Night Gala - Tuesday, February 24th | Gala Seats: $50; General Admission: $18 Adults; $15 Students and Seniors; TDF Vouchers accepted.

The play is based on the mythological Leir of Britain.

Top 5 Things to Do Inauguration Day 2009

OUT WITH THE OLD

1. Get a final night of George W. Bush with Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America. The play premiers on Broadway tonight and runs through March 15.

2. Enjoy the Last Days of W., Alec Soth's latest exhibit, at Gagosian Gallery (980 Madison Avenue). Opening reception from 6 pm to 8 pm.

IN WITH THE NEW

3. If you aren't actually going to DC to see Obama get sworn in, watch the inauguration on television.

4. Party for the Democratic party at the Blue Ball, featuring DJ Whoo Kid.

5. Be the catalyst for change. Attend the Brooklyn Inaugural Ball at Bell House, which not only features performances by Karen Gibson Roc and the South African Music Collective but also is a benefit for P.S. 261.

Resurrecting Socrates

Socrates in the City will present Emmy Award-winner Yannis Simonides' critically acclaimed performance of Plato's "The Apology of Socrates" on January 24 at The New York Society for Ethical Culture (2 West 64th Street). Tickets are $20 if you order by January 13. Tickets for the hors d'oeuvres and wine VIP reception with Simonides from 6:15 pm til 7:00 pm are $40 if you order by January 13. The event is hosted by Socrates in the City founder Eric Metaxas. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Socrates in the City website. The event is sure to prompt discussion on "life, God, and other small topics."

[photo of Yannis Simonides as Socrates from Socrates in the City]

Last month, Socrates in the City hosted a gala with Francis Collins, geneticist and author of The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.

Top 5 Things to Do January 8, 2009

1. Everyone you know full of contradictions? Attend the opening reception for Contradictions in Black and White at Hasted Hunt (529 West 20th St., 3rd Fl.)

2. Discover the hidden branch that tells time in Central Park. Meet at 1:00 in front of the statue of Samuel F. B. Morse (inside the Park at Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street)

3. If you have Peter Pan Syndrome, you might as well join all the kiddies that'll be at the Swedish Cottage in Central Park for the marionette production of Peter Pan and Adventures in Neverland

4. Hey there, karaoke stud, head on over to the Barnes & Noble at 106 Court Street in Brooklyn at 7:00 pm for a free reading of Don't Stop Believin' by author Brian Raftery, who, by the by, calls Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" his favorite karaoke song

5. Itching for a behind-the-scenes look into the Museum of Natural History's Conservation Lab? (Yeah, me too.) The Museum is offering three half-hour sessions, the first at 6:30, for $35 apiece.

Top 5 Things to Do January 6, 2009

1. Scrubs returns to television!

2. Inspired by Doug Aitken's Migration film at 303 Gallery last fall? Steven Rinella's reading of American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon, at the Tribeca Barnes & Noble at 7 pm, might be up your alley.

3. Enjoy a free organ concert put on by James Kennerley at 4:40pm at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin (145 W. 46th St.) by the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists

4. Get a preview of Robin Rhode's sets for Lincoln Center's 2009 November performances as part of the Broadway Billboards series at Socrates Sculpture Park

5. Hedda Gabler preview today. Be one of the first to see it.